Rita Reese - Tallahassee, Florida

MY ALLSTATE HORROR STORY

I came out of class a couple of weeks ago to find the bike rack knocked off my car and a note from a police officer saying someone had hit it. I was lucky that the person had filed a police report and had insurance, in fact, the same insurance company I used, Allstate.

After my car was at the shop a week, I was notified that the damages exceeded the value of the car. I had just bought it a year ago and had thoroughly researched its value so I felt ok about getting a reasonable replacement cost. I had paid $4600 and Allstate said they found a similar car, a year newer but with substantially higher mileage in a larger city two hours away for $4475. A similar car a year older with fewer features had just sold in my town for $4500. Allstate then offered me $3438. I was stunned. I called to get them to explain this outrageous mathematical feat and basically they said blah, blah, blah, our offers aren't based on anything in the known universe.

I finally talked them up to $3850 (never accept their first offer) but am now being stuck with the rental car costs which will wipe out the gains made in negotiating. After I complained to my agent he said a similar thing had happened to him. I suppose this was to make me feel better but it only served to demonstrate that Allstate will devour its own as well.

I called the Insurance Commissioner and was informed that they do not get involved in the establishment of fair prices for the replacement of the vehicle. In other words, the state forces you to give money to the insurance company but does not get involved in seeing to it that you get what you paid for.

"There is no incentive for insurance companies to do what is right, such as live up to the promises made in their policies. Tort reformers fueled by insurance money think big business and the insurance industry need to be protected against "runaway juries." It's the other way around. Big business and the insurance industry have always been able to take care of themselves. The little people need protection from them. This country was founded on the common law right of the little guy to get into court with his hired gun to fight the oppressor, be it big government or big business. Take that away and we have nothing left. Look around. It's being whittled away, bit by bit, caps on damages here, restrictions on jury trials there. It won't end until we recognize the enemy and join together to take a stand against them. It will take the little people to do this together".

Louis G. Fazzi, Esq. Attorney & Counselor At Law